The sixth Fourth

So, last year on the Fourth of July, I was pretty sure I was going into labor.  And we were buying a car.  Which takes forever on a good day, but if you're pretty sure you're in labor, it takes forever like that kid in  The Sandlot would say:  FO-R-EV-ERRRRRRR.....

As it happens, I just had a stomach bug (which I'll spare you the details of, because EWW).  We did not do anything festive that day, unless you think laying in bed contracting every 6 minutes is festive.  If you do, well, I was ALLLL over that.

This year, though, we had to do better.

So we packed it all up and went to celebrate America's birthday with some old friends, who have since moved to Grand Lake.

It was probably a good sign for our trip that we saw these beautiful elk, right off the side of the road, as we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park.

Aren't they gorgeous?  I'm not zoomed in, either.  This herd was right there, crossing the road and stopping traffic in front of us.  It was cool.

The first night we were there, we enjoyed dinner and ice cream by boat, and the kids had an awesome time running around, playing and enjoying each other.

The next day was extremely busy.  We began the day with a Fourth of July parade.

Two families, seven children between us.  It was fun and busy!

That's a smile, I swear.  A VERY excited one!

Leah and Logan both love service men and women.  When they see a military man, fireman or policeman, they always should "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!" at the top of their lungs.  Well... I was pretty sure their heads were going to explode during this parade!

Sweet Logan was so happy, he could hardly contain himself.  There were tons of fire trucks and candy... basically all the things in life that make him the happiest.

It was so sweet, too, to watch the responses of our service men and women to the kids.  I don't think they are accustomed to hearing people say thank you, which is really a shame.  They were surprised and grateful to hear it, and it was definitely one of those proud mommy moments that my children so freely offer their gratitude.

The noise was a little much for her at first, but even Miss Livvy came around and enjoyed herself.

Next up was a trip to the lake.  Oh man, is this the mountain life!

I was so proud of my big girl!  She got out on the tube like it was nothing.

I think she was a little nervous, but her excitement was enough to overcome the nerves.  For the record, there's nothing to strap her in here, she just had to hold on all on her own.

And they didn't hold back!  She had a great time.

And my sweet Logan is SUCH an encourager.  He clapped and cheered for Sis, although he was not quite ready to try the tube himself, though I did get him to sit in the tube briefly for a photo.

He did, however, jump in and swim in that chilly lake as if it were no big deal!  Those swim lessons were put to excellent use!

Miss Livvy Joy was not a big fan of the boat.

Largely, I suspect, because of that life vest.  And the wind in her face.  And the fact that she hadn't had enough sleep.  And, you know... because life is hard when you're a baby!

Even I got in on the action before the day was over.  Something I haven't done since probably high school, and it was such a blast!

By the time I got to take my turn, we were losing the kiddos.  It had been a very long and busy day, and even the best things in the world can wear you out.

So it was time to head back and call it a day - at least on the boating front.  Especially since we still had fireworks to watch!

We definitely pushed the envelope of what we typically do.  I am so schedule oriented; to pretty much disregard everyone's sleep needs and schedule is not in my usual repertoire.  The fireworks didn't even begin until 9:30, and by the time we made it back to the car to drive home it was after 11.  The kids fell asleep as soon as they hit their car seats, which was a good thing because we didn't actually pull in to our house until about 2 a.m.

It was such a wonderful trip, though!  Worth every second, and so fun to spend time with good friends.

Snapshots of summer

I am always amazed by how quickly summer passes us by.  Every year, I always think we're going to magically have all this extra time.  That we will slow down, drink it in and savor those long days.

And then, somehow, by the time the Fourth of July is upon us, I look back and realize that we've been far too busy and I haven't slowed down to record any of it.

I have taken a lot of photos this summer - more, in fact, than in previous summers - but, disclaimer: they are mostly on the same, select few days.  The few days when I had time, hands and presence of mind to actually grab the camera.

Luckily, they largely encapsulate the "flavor" of our summer.

There have been lots of popsicles and lemonade breaks.

Lots of practicing, playing, sharing and hugging.

Lots of smiling.

Lots of tickling.

This picnic blanket has had its fair share of use.  At the park, in the back yard, at the pool...

It has been a summer of water and sunscreen.

Running through the sprinklers.

Playing in the playhouse.

Splashing on the slip and slide.

Playing in the pool.

Grinning like a maniac.

And generally just enjoying our time together.

In July, Leah will again have summer camp three days a week, so even though things have been busy, it is certainly more on the slow-paced together side of things than it will be before long.

And it must be said: our yard is awesome.  Finally.  All those dirty-weedy places have been filled in (nearly, anyway) after a bit of sod, a lot of seed and tons of patience.  It is, at long last, a great place to hang out and relax.

We're incredibly happy to do it!

Ten.

It's not that third children are any less loved than their first or second sibling counterparts.  It's that their mommy's hands are much more full - all the time - and she's less able to take adorable photos and comment on each and every little milestone.

But, my poor sweet Livvy is long overdue.

At 10 months, Olivia has the greatest expressions.  She is so hilariously funny; you can see her reaction right there in her eyes.

She is crawling, but only just.  She does the army crawl a bit, but mostly just doesn't care to go anywhere away from mom.  She does enjoy sitting and playing on the floor - provided, of course, that mom is right there in eye shot.

She has two teeth on the bottom (that took forever to push in).  Her diapers are still on the first snap and she wears size two in disposables.  I finally caved and got her a tiny pair of shoes - size 2.

Every single night, she nurses sweetly and the instant she is done, she insists on being put down in her crib.  The child loves to sleep, and she is so, so very happy to snuggle in her bed.  Since she was first in the crib at about 6 months, she will put her thumb in her mouth and pull her blanket directly over her head.  It about gave me a heart attack the first few times I saw her do it, but it's the only way she'll sleep.  Sometimes, she'll cry in the middle of the night if she has kicked her blanket away.

That child is so very loved by her big brother and sister.  They are just the sweetest little hearts in the gentle ways they play with her, help her and love on her.  Despite the uncertainty in this photo, she loves them, too.  Particularly Leah, that little mothering girl.

At her 9 month check up, she weighed 16.4 pounds with a head in the 85th percentile.  Smallest of my little ones so far.

She has not been as vocal as the other two, at least in the words department.  She babbles a lot, and imitates both pitch and rhythm.  She finally said her first words: Good girl.  Yep.  I think it's possible that she hears that one often.

She is still easy, but mostly because she almost always gets her way.  Heaven help us when the days come that she doesn't... she's going to be a sassy little thing!

We love that sweet girl.  More than words can even describe.  She is the most wonderful blessing to this family!

A, she's adorable

Two words: Dance Recital.

We're so dang proud of that girl.

Cuties and the start of summer.

My three babies in this bed make me happy.  

So happy.

So, soooooo happy.

This is what Logan does while Leah and I do school.  Busy box, to the rescue!

This is my happy place.